Living in Naperville you get accustomed to seeing wild animals. I have seen deer, turtles, snakes, wild turkeys, groundhogs, possums, raccoons, skunks and foxes in our parks, trails and subdivisions. In the last few years more coyotes and hawks have moved in for easy pickings of rabbits who have increased due to our domestic cat leash ordinance. You’d think we were living in the country rather than an established suburb.
I was surprised to realize that our wildlife pales in comparison to Berlin, Germany, a city of 3 million. On a recent vacation to visit friends we heard about the 9,000 foxes, 1,500 wild boars and countless birds, rabbits and rare insects that inhabit that cosmopolitan city. Foxes have become so common that a few wait with pedestrians to cross at the stoplight! Wild boars routinely dig up gardens and rabbits. Lots of rabbits.
This wildlife is a direct result of communist rule. The No Man’s Land next to the wall that separated the halves of the city was mined to keep freedom-seeking East Germans enslaved.
Our friend once had an apartment near the infamous Berlin Wall and remembers hearing land mines detonate at night. Rabbits were usually the victims, but unfortunately not always. Foxes and boars have a better sense of smell and were able to avoid death meant for people.
In the History Channel series, “Life After People,” experts speculate about what might become of Earth should humanity instantly disappear. The Communists showed the German people what would happen if you take a wide swath of urban land and make it unsafe for humans.
As we celebrate Independence Day, I am reminded how even the small things, like living with wild animals, help me value my freedoms.
